30-year-old man arrested in Larnaca for tobacco smuggling

On the afternoon of November 6, 2026, members of the DAOE-YPEE specialized police unit arrested a 30-year-old man in the Larnaca district for the possession and transport of illegal tobacco products. The suspect was stopped during a coordinated traffic operation at approximately 5:20 p.m. upon suspicion of illicit activity.

Following a search of his vehicle, authorities discovered a significant quantity of contraband. The items seized included 200 cartons of cigarettes, amounting to 2,000 packs, and 54 kilograms of rolling tobacco divided into 1,080 packages of 50 grams each. Investigators confirmed that none of the products bore the mandatory legal labeling or traceability codes required by law. The suspect and his vehicle were subsequently transported to the Pera Chorio Nisou Police Station for further processing.

The case has been transferred to the Department of Customs, which is now leading the investigation. The 30-year-old remains in custody as authorities conduct follow-up examinations and continue to evaluate the evidence collected during the operation.